“From the skies.”
“A fair abode, certainly; how long has he been here?”
“For the last fortnight. He visits, but asks for nothing.”
“How does he live?”
“On credit at the inn; he is supposed to be waiting for his carriage and servants.”
“He is probably a vagabond.”
“He does not look like one, as you saw for yourself, and his diamonds contradict that hypothesis.”
“Yes, if they are not imitation stones, for it seems to me that if they were real he would sell them.”
When I got home Rose came by herself to attend on me, but she continued to sulk. I tried to rouse her up, but as I had no success I ordered her to go and tell her father that I was going to give a ball next day in the room by the garden, and that supper was to be laid for twenty.
When the door-keeper came to take my orders the following morning, I told him that I should like his girls to dance if he didn’t mind. At this Rose condescended to smile, and I thought it a good omen. Just as she went out with her father, Manon came in under the pretext of asking me what lace I would wear for the day. I found her as gentle as a lamb and as loving as a dove. The affair was happily consummated, but we had a narrow escape of being caught by Rose, who came in with Le Duc and begged me to let him dance, promising that he would behave himself properly. I was glad that everybody should enjoy themselves and consented, telling him to thank Rose, who had got him this favour.